Italian VAR Supervisor Gervasoni Investigated for Sporting Fraud
Italian VAR supervisor Andrea Gervasoni is under investigation for sporting fraud in connection with a Serie B match from March 2025, according to judicial documents. The Milan prosecutor's office notified Gervasoni of the investigation on Friday, alleging he pressured a VAR official during a Salernitana versus Modena match. The specific allegation, detailed in the notice, states that Gervasoni "incalzava e sollecitava" (urged and pressed) VAR operator Luigi Nasca to call referee Antonio Giuia to an on-field review regarding a penalty awarded to Modena. Gervasoni has subsequently chosen to suspend himself from his duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
The incident in question occurred on March 8, 2025, during a crucial period in the Serie B season. The investigation is part of a wider probe by Milan prosecutors that also involves designator Gianluca Rocchi, who is under scrutiny for allegedly manipulated referee appointments. According to reports, the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) prosecutor, Giuseppe Chinè, was previously unaware of the allegations against Gervasoni, just as he was with the Rocchi case. Chinè has now formally requested the investigation documents from Milan to assess potential breaches of the sporting justice code.
The FIGC is expected to receive the files in the coming days, likely after Rocchi's scheduled questioning on April 30. Once the documents are reviewed, the federation is poised to open its own disciplinary case if evidence suggests a violation. This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing scrutiny of Italian football's officiating and VAR protocols, casting a shadow over the integrity of the league's decision-making processes. The case evokes memories of past Italian football scandals, though it remains a separate and distinct legal proceeding.
Gervasoni's role as a VAR supervisor places him in a position of significant influence over the video review system, which is designed to be objective and corrective. The core allegation suggests an attempt to improperly influence a live match decision, a serious charge under Italy's sporting fraud statutes. His decision to self-suspend is a standard procedural move in such circumstances, aiming to avoid any conflict of interest while the judicial and sporting authorities conduct their parallel inquiries.
The implications for Italian football are immediate, raising fresh questions about the oversight and independence of the VAR system just as the current season reaches its climax. The FIGC will be under pressure to conduct a transparent and rigorous internal investigation to maintain public confidence. This case, alongside the probe into Rocchi, represents one of the most significant challenges to the administration of the game in Italy since the Calciopoli scandal, though it is currently focused on individual alleged actions rather than systemic corruption.
